Neck Pillow

ABSTRACT

A neck pillow. The neck pillow has an annular padded body with a central aperture adapted to receive and encircle an individual&#39;s head and neck. The central aperture defines the interior circumference of the annular body. The annular body has a lower side configured to rest on the shoulders of the individual and an upper side configured to align with each side of the individual&#39;s jaw. The rear upper portion of the annular body is configured to align with the occipital portion of the individual&#39;s head, such that the head is cushioned and the neck and spine is aligned in a proper position.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/684,336 filed on Jun. 13, 2018. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to neck pillows. More particularly, the present invention provides a neck pillow configured to align with the individual's jaw and give additional support to the occipital portion of the individual's head, such that the head is cushioned and the neck and spine is aligned in a proper position.

Many individuals frequently travel for business or pleasure where it is difficult for them to attain adequate rest. While traveling on vehicles such as an planes, trains, or buses, such individuals may be forced to sit, or fall asleep while sitting, in an awkward position, which can lead to a stiff neck and sore shoulder, neck and back muscles. The pain associated with this stiffness and soreness can linger for days. In addition, sleeping in an uncomfortable position typically results in short bursts of sleep and difficulty in staying asleep. If the individual is able to attain any sleep, the quality of sleep is often inadequate and non-restorative.

Although devices have been disclosed in the known art that relate to neck pillows, either these devices do not provide adequate cushioning to the occipital portion of the individual's head, or do not maintain proper alignment of the individual's neck and spine without internal support frames or by means of attaching the individual's head to a support structure, such as a chair, via the pillow. Accordingly, a portable neck pillow configured to align with the individual's jaw and give additional support to the occipital portion of the individual's head, such that the head is cushioned and the neck and spine is aligned in a proper position, allowing the individual to comfortably sit or sleep in a wide variety of positions, thereby preventing stiff and sore muscles is desired.

The present invention substantially diverges in design elements from the known art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing neck pillow devices. In this regard the present invention substantially fulfills these needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of neck pillows now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a neck pillow configured to align with the individual's jaw and give additional support to the occipital portion of the individual's head, such that the head is cushioned and the neck and spine is aligned in a proper position. The present neck pillow comprises an annular padded body with a central aperture adapted to receive and encircle an individual's head and neck. The central aperture defines the interior circumference of the annular body. The annular body has a lower side configured to rest on the shoulders of the individual and an upper side configured to align with each side of the individual's jaw. The rear upper portion of the annular body is configured to align with the occipital portion of the individual's head, such that the head is cushioned and the neck and spine is aligned in a proper position.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the neck pillow without a strap attached, wherein the pillow consists of one continuous unit.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the neck pillow with an adjustable strap attached, in a closed configuration.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the neck pillow with an adjustable strap attached, in an open configuration.

FIG. 4 shows a frontal view of an embodiment of the neck pillow with an adjustable strap attached, in use.

FIG. 5 shows a side view of an embodiment of the neck pillow with an adjustable strap attached, in use.

FIG. 6 shows a rear view of an embodiment of the neck pillow with an adjustable strap attached, in use.

FIG. 7 shows an additional side view of an embodiment of the neck pillow with an adjustable strap attached, in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the neck pillow. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, a preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for the neck pillow. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the neck pillow. The neck pillow comprises an annular padded body 100. The annular padded body 100 can be configured to accommodate a variety of sizes according to an individual's user's head and neck size. Additionally, the annular padded body 100 can be filled with filler material including, but not limited to polyester, goose down, cotton, memory foam or other suitable material and can be filled to accommodate a variety of firmness options. In one embodiment the exterior of the annular padded body 100 is encased by a cover material composed of materials including, but not limited to cotton, microfiber or any other suitable material. In such embodiment, the exterior circumference may incorporate any suitable indicia thereon, such as a logo or a pattern.

The annular padded body is further comprised of a central aperture. The central aperture 110 defines the interior circumference of the annular padded body and is adapted to receive and encircle an individual's head and neck.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the neck pillow with an adjustable strap attached, in a closed position. In the shown embodiment the annular padded body is further comprised of a first appendage 210 and a second appendage 220. An adjustable strap 200 is disposed along the length of the lower exterior portion of the first appendage 210 and received along the length of the lower exterior portion of the second appendage 220 of the annular padded body. It should be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that various types of fasteners may be used to secure the adjustable strap 200 to the annular padded body.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the neck pillow with a strap attached, in an open configuration. In the shown embodiment the adjustable strap 200 is comprised of, and received by, a complementary hook and loop fastening system 300. In this shown embodiment the adjustable strap 200 is configured to extend circumferentially around the first appendage 210 and the second appendage 220 such that an individual can selectively unfasten or secure the apparatus to a desired tightness.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a frontal view of an embodiment of the neck pillow in use. In the preferred embodiment, the adjustable strap 200 is configured to extend just below the individual's chin 440 of the individual without fitting tightly against the individual's neck. The annular padded body 100 has a lower side 400 that is configured to rest on the shoulders 410 of the individual. The annular padded body 100 also has an upper side 420 that is configured to align with each side of the individual's jaw 430. In the preferred embodiment, the annular padded body 100 cradles the individual's jaw 430. Additionally, in the preferred embodiment, the top of the first appendage 210 and the top of the second appendage 220 will abut and support the individual's chin 440. In this embodiment, the top of the first appendage 210, along the length thereof, and the top of the second appendage 220, along the length thereof, will run alongside and support the sides of the jaw 430, up to the lower check 450.

Referring now to FIGS. 5-7, there are shown side elevation views and a rear view of an embodiment of the neck pillow in use. The rear upper portion 500 of the annular body is configured to align with the occipital portion of the individual's head 510, such that the head 520 is cushioned and the neck aligned in a proper position. A proper position is a position where the neck and head are aligned relative to the spine.

In the shown embodiment, the neck pillow comprises an arcuate configuration, wherein a height of a front upper portion 540 of the annular padded body 100 progressively increases and terminates at a rear upper portion 550 of the annular padded body 100. The rear upper portion 550 comprises an elevated height configured to abut flush against the occipital portion 510 of the individual's head, such that the individual's head is cushioned and the individual's neck and spine are aligned in a proper position.

It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 

We claim: 1) A neck pillow, comprising: an annular padded body having a central aperture adapted to receive and encircle an individual's head and neck therethrough; the central aperture defining an interior circumference of the annular body; the annular body having a first appendage and a second appendage; the annular body having a lower side, configured to rest on the shoulders of the individual; the annular body having a front upper side, configured to align with each side of the individual's jaw; the annular body having a rear upper side, configured to align with the occipital portion of the individual's head, such that the head is cushioned and the neck aligned in a proper position. 2) The neck pillow of claim 1, wherein the first appendage is in union with the second appendage. 3) The neck pillow of claim 1, wherein the padding is comprised of a filler material. 4) The neck pillow of claim 3, wherein the filler material is polyester, goose down, cotton or memory foam. 5) The neck pillow of claim 1, further comprising an adjustable strap disposed on the annular body. 6) The neck pillow of claim 5, wherein the adjustable strap is disposed on the first appendage of the annular body, the adjustable strap is configured to extend circumferentially over the first appendage and the adjustable strap is configured to be removably securable to the second appendage of the annular body.) 7) The neck pillow of claim 6, wherein the adjustable strap comprises a hook and loop fastener. 8) The neck pillow of claim 1, wherein the body comprises an arcuate configuration, wherein the height of the front upper portion of the body progressively increases and terminates at the rear upper portion of the body. 9) The neck pillow of claim 8, wherein the rear upper portion of the body comprises an elevated height configured to abut flush against the occipital portion of the individual's head. 